First Edinburgh tram arrives late

The first tram to be delivered for Edinburgh has arrived in a way that symbolises the whole project – late. The trams were supposed to improve the Edinburgh travel system but have proved to be an almost complete let-down from start to finish for Edinburgh residents.

The vehicle was due to arrive in the capital after a 900-mile journey from northern Spain at 11am. But it was two hours late.

The delay for the seven parts of the tram was put down to bad weather causing the ferry to be late.

It is the first of a 27-strong fleet that is expected to be running along the streets of the capital by 2014.

Housed at the depot at Gogar, the rest of the fleet are expected to arrive over the coming months.

The City of Edinburgh Council said the depot is now electrified which means static testing can be carried out as soon as the vehicles arrive. Once the test track is finished in early December they will start “dynamic testing”.

The project has been delayed after a series of disputes between the council and contractors. Last week an Edinburgh councillor admitted that he did not have the knowledge or experience to manage the contarct for the council.